The history of telephone communication in Alberta is quite fascinating, involving numerous people who played a role in its development. The first major innovation in the city was the telegraph. Over time, telegraphs were replaced by telephones, though the variety of devices was far from what we have today. Let’s explore how the era of telephony evolved in Edmonton. Read more on edmonton-future.
Key Figures Behind the Introduction of the Telegraph in Alberta
The first telegraph in Western Canada was introduced thanks to ambitious businessmen and public figures who were among its earliest users. Major Walker, who served in the North-West Mounted Police, was among the first to demonstrate how the telegraph worked. In fact, he was the first recipient of a message via this new device. Walker didn’t stay in the police force for long—he later opened a logging business in Calgary and proposed to the local authorities the installation of the city’s first telegraph. As a result, Calgary received its first telegraph system.
In Edmonton, Alexander Taylor played a key role in bringing the telegraph to the city. He ordered the first two telegraph devices from England, with the assistance of W. McKenny, a former postmaster, magistrate, and school board chairman from Ontario who had relocated to Edmonton. McKenny built a store that housed a telegraph office and also constructed a residence in St. Albert.
The first long-distance telegraph call to Edmonton occurred in the winter of 1881. Locals were both excited and anxious as McKenny’s store and Taylor’s telegraph station were separated by nine miles yet still connected. The voices were clear, and not only could the two speakers hear each other, but so could those standing nearby.
In January 1881, the local newspaper The Bulletin reported that Reverend Father Leduc from St. Albert, speaking with Alexander Taylor via telegraph, extended New Year’s greetings to all Edmontonians.
What Was the First Telegraph Like?
The first electric telegraph was a simple device consisting of two components connected by a single electrical wire. A current sent through the wire activated an electromagnet, which in turn rang a bell. Soon after its introduction, American inventor Samuel Morse refined the system by developing a coded language, making telegraph communication more efficient. Alberta quickly adopted the telegraph, and it became one of the greatest innovations of its time, significantly improving people’s lives.
The First Telephone in Edmonton
It was only natural that the invention of the telephone followed the advancement of the telegraph. By 1884, a small group of entrepreneurs in Edmonton had come together with the idea of building the city’s first power station. The introduction of the telegraph by Taylor laid the groundwork for the telephone industry. In 1884, Taylor urged Dominion Telegraph Services to establish a telephone connection between his telegraph office and St. Albert. The first telephone line became operational in 1885. Shortly after, Taylor connected his office to Fort Edmonton, launching the city’s first telephone system.
Taylor eventually sold his telephone business to the city in 1904, leading to the establishment of Edmonton’s own telephone company. Over time, the Edmonton District Company evolved into a municipal telephone system, later known as Edmonton Telephones.
By 1967, the Edmonton Telephone Company was purchased by TELUS, which has since become one of Canada’s largest telecommunications corporations.
The Preserved and Lost History of Telephone Communication in Edmonton
In 1987, a group of employees at Ed Tel took the initiative to preserve the history of Edmonton’s first telephones. They established an informational fund for the Edmonton Telephones Historical Centre and created a museum located on 83 Avenue in Old Strathcona. Unfortunately, the museum was unable to remain operational due to a lack of funding. It ultimately closed its doors in 2019, marking the end of an era in preserving the city’s telecommunications history.